In response to concerns about the cost of keeping up with individual desktop computing technology, several new solutions have emerged. Referred to as "thin clients," or network-centric computers, they include two types of desktop device: the network computer and the Windows terminal. Purchase cost, life span, support costs, and overall total cost…

Documentation of computer network use at five colleges and universities is being used to promote more widespread adoption of the technology. The reports cite improved communication among students, faculty, and administrators, and credit international networks with enhancing higher education around the world. (MSE)

Leaders at Voorhees College (South Carolina), a small historically black institution with limited finances, have used ingenuity and hard work to develop a campus computer system. Despite lack of faculty and staff sophistication in computer use, the college is gradually improving computer resources and faculty computing skills, and enterprising…

Seven papers from the 1990 CAUSE conference's Track IV, Policy and Standards are presented. Topics addressed in this track include data administration, computing access, involvement of constituencies in policy making and enforcement, and institutional standards for departmental systems. Papers and their authors are as follows: "Evolution of a…

Six papers from the 1990 CAUSE conference's Track V, Managing Telecommunications and Networking are presented. Topics address such subjects as network funding, support services, access to networks, improvement of instruction through networks, and image transmission. Papers and their authors are as follows: "What's New in…

Three high-technology approaches are suggested to make college and university development efforts more efficient: (1) use of automated systems for phonathons; (2) use of local area networks to speed access to databases; and (3) exchange of information on electronic bulletin boards. (MSE)

Discussion of Internet2 and the college or university's decision to participate in the network looks at the characteristics of the system and the advantages of access to it; infrastructure needed to participate; costs to the institution; considerations in making the decision to participate; and the consequences of waiting. (MSE)

Internet2, a consortium effort of over 100 universities, is investing in upgrading campus and national computer network platforms for such applications as digital libraries, collaboration environments, tele-medicine, and distance-independent instruction. The project is described, issues the project intends to address are detailed, and ways in…

Colleges and universities are anticipating significant benefits from electronic transfer of student transcripts and other data, including reduced costs and time savings, improved academic advising, and standardization of information format. Early testing of the recommended software suggests institutions find the system useful. (MSE)

As higher education institutions plan for the future, common agreement to build open distributed computing environments (DCE) using common standards such as those of the Open Software Foundation can help exploit new application design approaches that promote application sharing, a more efficient way of meeting upcoming challenges. (MSE)

Strategies at several private and public colleges and universities to support advancing information technology are described. Trends include distributed computing, database connectivity, and increased computer use in teaching. Common instructional concerns include facilitating use of technology and developing "supertech" classrooms.…

Reasons for adopting Open Software Foundation (OSF) standards for distributed computing environments (DCE) within colleges and universities are examined. Adoption would promote interoperability across heterogeneous systems within and between institutions, aid in transition to client/server computing, and facilitate sharing and leveraging across…

The rapid evolution of information technology is discussed. Some of the changes and the challenges the changes present to institutions to appropriately organize and manage their information resources and services to meet the needs of the campus community are examined. (Author/MLW)

Advances in computing hardware and software, voice and electronic communications, electronic mail, and the information highway will affect the work environment for institutional researchers. In addition, as teaching, learning, and administrative processes are reengineered, the traditional analytical skills of these professionals will be useful in…

Three major areas of new technology appropriate for distance education are briefly described: satellite delivery, video teleconferencing, and computers and networking. Important considerations are offered to college and university trustees for media selection and policy formation. (MSE)